Werenski helps Blue Jackets defeat Hurricanes in shootout

COLUMBUS -- Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist, and Cam Atkinson scored the deciding goal in the shootout for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

Joonas Korpisalo made 29 saves in his first game in three weeks, and Artemi Panarin also scored in the shootout for Columbus, which has won seven of eight games. Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, the two shooters for Carolina (10-8-5), did not score; Aho hit the post and Teravainen was slightly off target.
"I didn't have to save any of the pucks in the shootout," Korpisalo said.
WATCH: [All Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Josh Anderson also scored for the Blue Jackets (16-8-1), who are 8-0-1 in games decided after regulation.
"Great goaltending. That's the key right there," Blue Jackets center Alex Wennberg said. "When it comes down to [getting] an extra point, it's huge. Every point makes a difference."
Noah Hanifin and Brock McGinn scored for Carolina. Scott Darling made 36 saves, including one on a rising shot by Atkinson with 7:42 left in the third period that temporarily stunned him.
"He's a huge reason we snuck out of here with a point tonight," Hanifin said of Darling.
Korpisalo (2-3-0) got his first victory since defeating the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 17. Sergei Bobrovsky had made eight straight starts since Korpisalo lost to the Nashville Predators at home on Nov. 7.

"I'm thrilled for [Korpisalo]," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I'm so happy for him to get a win as, I guess, your second goalie."
Korpisalo stayed sharp by playing two games for the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate in Cleveland.
"It helps a lot. It's different than practices," he said. "Every game I can get, I'll take it."
The Blue Jackets, coming off a 3-1 loss at the Montreal Canadiens on Monday that ended a six-game winning streak, took a 1-0 lead 70 seconds into the first period on Anderson's Columbus-high ninth goal.
Hanifin's fourth goal made it 1-1 at 7:41 off a 2-on-1. He passed to his right to Derek Ryan, who fended off Anderson, then returned the puck for the one-timer.

Werenski's seventh goal gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 3:47 of the second. He scored on a snap shot from the right circle after a cross-ice pass from Wennberg.
"The first two periods we weren't playing our game," Hanifin said. "We needed to play harder and compete more."
McGinn tied the score at 2-2 at 10:09 of the third period during an odd-man rush, taking a drop pass in the high slot from Brett Pesce for his sixth goal.
"That might have been his first shift in the third period too," Carolina coach Bill Peters said of McGinn.

Goal of the game

Werenski's goal at 3:47 of the second period.

Save of the game

Darling's save on Seth Jones at 18:04 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Hanifin's goal at 7:41 of the first period.

They said it

"They had a long back-to-back and they had more jump than us, which isn't right. We tried to sustain some offensive zone time, which we did not do, to wear out a team on a back-to-back. We weren't good enough in our zone." -- Hurricanes center Jordan Staal
"We're getting used to each other. I've got a feeling where Josh is going to be. I've got a feeling where Artemi is going to be. We don't think. We just play with our instincts. That's why we're dangerous." -- Blue Jackets rookie center Pierre-Luc Dubois on playing with new linemates Josh Anderson and Artemi Panarin

Need to know

Carolina is 11-3-4 against Columbus in the past 18 games. … Wennberg (upper body) returned after missing six games. … Tortorella got his 100th win with the Blue Jackets (100-65-17).

What's next

Hurricanes: At the New York Rangers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, PRIME, NHL.TV)